Strong Relationships to Combat Loneliness in Youth

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Have you ever had a young person tell you they were lonely? As adults, we may know how scary loneliness and isolation can feel. Unfortunately, these feelings are more common among young people than we may think. 

According to the U.S. Surgeon General Advisory, “young adults are nearly twice as likely to report feeling lonely than people over the age of 65.” However, the Advisory also points to strong relationships as the remedy for youth loneliness. These relationships can form in a number of different settings and bring great benefits to young people. For example, look at the impact school, community programs, family, and peer relationships can have on youth:

• School relationships can help students earn better grades
• Youth programs can help young people develop a sense of community identity
• Family members can help youth gain greater social-emotional strengths such as self-awareness, emotional competence, and personal responsibility
• Peer-to-Peer relationships can help individuals improve their self-confidence and leadership skills

Stay Inspired

Want to learn more about how to help lonely youth? Click here to read the article about the loneliness epidemic among youth and click here to learn more about developmental relationships.